When a Hanley-based shop shared a video online about white poppies, it never imagined it would draw such a large response. More than 90 people posted a comment on The Army and Navy Store’s Facebook page and a fair few of the messages were abusive.

The White Poppy for Peace campaign, which originally published the video, was set up by the Peace Pledge Union to raise awareness of the flower’s purpose. It is a symbol that’s been around for more than 80 years and carries a message of peace, challenging people around the world who celebrate the effects of war.

Although the red poppy, produced by the Royal British Legion, has traditionally focused on those who lost their lives in the First and Second World Wars, the white version honours victims of all wars and is particularly associated with left-wing politics.

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The idea, though, isn’t to everyone’s taste. Many people believe it’s a symbol of political propaganda. As a result, some businesses have been pressured into not selling them and, as the co-ordinator of the Peace Pledge Union, Symon Hill admits abuse surrounding the subject is a regular thing.

He said: “There are now more shops selling white poppies than there have been for years – from a fish and chip shop in Lincoln to an antiques shop in Fishguard. Many people also buy white poppies online from the Peace Pledge Union.

“I am both sad and angry that a number of shops, schools and individuals have been pressurised into not selling white poppies.

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"The online abuse directed at the shop in Stoke-on-Trent is symptomatic of a a sharp rise in abuse aimed at white poppy wearers, including hundreds of abusive message sent to the Peace Pledge Union, some of them containing threats of violence or saying that white poppies should be banned. Despite this situation, we have sold more than 97,500 poppies this year.”

Potentially unaware of the backlash it may cause, Army and Navy Store assistant James Daley shared the post on Facebook. He was looking for reaction with a view to potentially, selling them in store. James was taken aback by the abusive comments.

He said: “It was surprising. We thought a few people would have backed it so, in a way, we just shared the video. Not to promote the idea, but to see what people thought about it, and consider whether we should stock it ourselves.

Red poppies are traditionally worn for Remembrance Sunday

“If we’d have known what reaction it would have got at the start, I don’t think we would have shared it. Personally, I don’t think or see it as that but as bizarre as it may seem, I don’t think it’s easy to do anything now without upsetting someone along the way.”

When it comes to war and peace, and the symbolism of the white poppy, some members of the Green Party have, historically, shown their support for the idea. Two of the Stoke-On-Trent party candidates from the 2017 election, Jan Zablocki and Adam Colclough believe it has a place in today’s society.

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Jan, from Weston Coyney, said: “While we rightly remember and commemorate those that have sacrificed themselves for our safety and security, one of the most tragic aspects of humanity is our apparent inability to learn to avoid conflict and war.

“Too many politicians divide, rather than unite, the peoples of our world. You only have to visit the National Memorial Arboretum to gauge a contemporary representation of this. If the white poppy can cause us to reflect upon this, then it is to be applauded.”

A white poppy is a symbol of peace

Adam, from Penkhull, added: “I support the white poppy as a legitimate expression of opposition to war.

“It is in no way insulting to those who died in the two world wars, many of those that had pacifist sympathies based on their experiences of conflict. It is my personal view, that, red and white poppies should be worn with equal pride, and laid side by side at memorials.”